Don remains active as an illustrator and artist. He illustrated books such as Minnesota’s Natural Heritage by John Tester and was an artist-in-residence at Joshua Tree National Park, and the Cedar Creek Ecosystem Science Reserve. A retrospective exhibition of his art and illustrations, A View from a Canoe, showed at the Bell Museum in fall 2016. His paintings have been featured in one-person exhibitions at the Great Lakes Aquarium in Duluth, MN, the Peter White Library in Marquette, Michigan, the Jaques Art Center in Aitkin, MN, and the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum. He has recently been awarded an artist-in-residence at the Chik-Wauk Museum on the Gunflint Trail. His artworks can be viewed at www.donluce.art.

For over forty years, Don Luce integrated art and science in the design and development of natural history exhibitions. As curator of exhibits, he developed over thirty original exhibitions for the Bell Museum on topics such as art and nature, ecology, evolution, animal behavior, endangered species, and current science research. Many of these exhibitions toured nationally. Recent exhibitions, such as The Lion’s Mane and Mysteries in the Mud, engage visitors in the process of science as conducted by University researchers. As well as supervising the Bell Museum’s exhibition programs, Don curated the museum’s art collection. He is an expert on the art of dioramas, and artist-naturalists such as John James Audubon and Francis Lee Jaques. Also active as a scientific illustrator and artist, he has illustrated books such as Minnesota’s Natural Heritage by John Tester, and has been an artist-in-residence with the National Park Service. Audubon and the Art of Birds and Seeing Birds are recent exhibitions that he has curated. From 2014 to 2018, he was a principal developer of Minnesota Journeys, the new permanent exhibition gallery in the new Bell Museum. He is a co-author of the book, A Natural Curiosity: The Story of the Bell Museum, published by the University of Minnesota Press in 2022.As of June 30, 2021, Don has retired from his position as curator of exhibits, but will continue to work on several research projects involving the museum's art collection. He is actively pursuing his artwork in retirement. His artworks can be seen at www.donluce.art.